Summary
- The Last of Us season 2's compact 7-episode order promises a meticulously crafted narrative spanning multiple seasons.
- Ellie's discovery of Joel's betrayal marks a crucial turning point in their relationship, setting up potential forgiveness in the future.
- The series' commitment to chronological storytelling allows for deeper character development and potentially longer screen time for Pedro Pascal as Joel.
Ellie Discovering Joel's Secret Is A Perfect The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale Cliffhanger
Ellie Reckons With The Fact That Joel Took Away Her Ability To Choose
...the crushing scene opens up another arc: Will Ellie forgive Joel?
The deeply emotional, chilling Last of Us 2 moment serves as an appropriate echo of the first game's (and the first season's) ending. In a weird way, it provides a measure of closure to that cliffhanger feeling at the end of The Last of Us, and, more importantly, resolves the tension around when, exactly, Ellie will discover the truth. Instead, the crushing scene opens up another arc: Will Ellie forgive Joel? With The Last of Us season 2 boasting just 7 episodes, telling the story in chronological order, so the sophomore season concludes with Joel's confession, is the perfect path forward.
The Last Of Us Season 3 Could Begin With TLOU 2's Major Death
Ending TLOU Season 2 With Ellie & Joel's Conflict Sets The Right Tone For Season 3's Themes
By the end of season 3's first episode, the show could kill off Joel, setting the rest of the season into motion.
If The Last of Us season 2 ends with Ellie realizing the extent of Joel's betrayal — the way he took away Ellie's ability to choose her own fate — then The Last of Us season 3 can open much like the second game. The third HBO outing can tease Ellie and Dina's (Isabela Merced) budding relationship and the fact that Ellie's still at odds with Joel before introducing Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). By the end of season 3's first episode, the show could kill off Joel, setting the rest of the season into motion.
[Ellie is] grieving Joel, but still unable to completely forgive him.
Better yet, the series could save the porch conversation for The Last of Us season 3 finale. Doing so would leave viewers wondering about the context and content of Ellie and Joel's last real conversation. That kind of structure also hammers home just how frustrated Ellie feels — grieving Joel, but still unable to completely forgive him. As Ellie tracks Abby down, Ellie is haunted by this complicated mix of feelings about Joel, and I think this is one of the most effective ways for the show to capture that.
Telling The Last Of Us: Part II's Story Chronologically Avoids Season 2's Pedro Pascal Problem
The Beloved Joel Actor Can Stick Around For At Least 3 Seasons Of The Last Of Us
The update regarding the series' second season is a huge relief for Pedro Pascal's Joel. Although it's unclear where season 2 will leave off, The Last of Us' commitment to taking its time is apparent. That not only works to the benefit of the larger narrative and its themes, but to the benefit of The Last of Us' cast of characters. For newcomers, the pacing allows for more backstory and characterization — but, for Joel, it means a longer stint on the series. That is, if HBO's The Last of Us followed TLOU 2 exactly, Pascal would have little screentime.
